Conservation is a team sport, and Black Swamp Conservancy often works with partners (park districts, state & federal agencies and other nonprofit organizations) to protect and restore land in northwest Ohio. Such was the case when the Henry-Wood Sportsman’s Alliance approached the Conservancy last year about a property along the Maumee River that they had their eyes on.
“I’ve lived in Henry County my whole life – over fifty years – and I’ve never seen a parcel like this come available,” said Greg Carson, President of Henry-Wood Sportsman’s Alliance. “This was a rare opportunity to buy a piece of land that has been in the same family for more than 100 years.”
Indeed, the property is a special place. It contains 100 acres along a three-quarters of a mile stretch of the river that includes a section of the historic towpath canal utilized by the Buckeye Trail Association, mature oak and hickory forest, and some cropland that will be restored to natural habitat. Initial surveys identified more than 140 native plants and 120 wildlife species using the site.
Black Swamp Conservancy spearheaded this purchase on the Alliance’s behalf. The Conservancy secured grant funding through the Clean Ohio Greenspace Program and managed the land protection process. At the end of April, Henry-Wood Sportsman’s Alliance purchased the property and granted a perpetual conservation agreement to Black Swamp Conservancy – ensuring the property will forever be a nature preserve.
“We are excited to see the Alliance use this property to engage a new generation of outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen,” remarked Elisabeth Anderson, Conservation Associate with the Conservancy.
